Virtual classrooms are online learning environments where students and teachers interact in a manner similar to traditional physical classrooms, but through the use of digital tools and the internet. They are designed to facilitate remote learning, allowing students and educators to participate in educational activities regardless of their physical location. Virtual classrooms have become increasingly popular due to their accessibility, flexibility and ability to facilitate remote education.
Here are some very popular virtual classroom platforms:
Google Classroom
Developed by Google, this platform integrates with other Google apps like Google Drive and Google Meet. It offers teachers the ability to create, distribute, and grade assignments, as well as communicate with students.
Canvas
A learning management system widely used in educational institutions, Canvas facilitates course creation, content delivery, assessments, and student communication.
Moodle
Another popular open-source LMS, Moodle is used by educators to create online courses and interact with students through discussion forums, quizzes, and assignments.
Blackboard Learn
An established LMS used by many universities and schools, Blackboard Learn offers features like content management, assessments, and collaboration tools.
Zoom for Education
While Zoom is primarily known for video conferencing, it gained immense popularity during the pandemic for online teaching and learning. It offers features like breakout rooms, screen sharing, and live chat.
Schoology
A cloud-based LMS that provides tools for creating, managing, and sharing academic content. It also enables communication between teachers, students, and parents.
Adobe Connect
Known for its interactive features, Adobe Connect is used for virtual classrooms, webinars, and online training sessions.
BigBlueButton
An open-source virtual classroom platform that integrates with various learning management systems and supports real-time collaboration.
Microsoft Teams
Part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams provides a virtual classroom environment with video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft apps like OneDrive and OneNote.
